My DIY Rock/Foam Reef
- Thread starter Kannin
- Start date
I'm on the same path Kannin...I plan on leaving the entire back unepoxied. The rest of my foam structure will be coated and sealed with epxoy, sand/crushed coral mixture. Although for me with the sides expossed, I'm copating both sides as well so that they blend in more from the front and the 2 sides.
As for the ill effects everyone is worried about, people have been using this method for a few years now and it has not caused a system crash. I believe because this method is so far out in left field that people automatically assume that it wont work or wont be safe. I've read alot and done my research and have heard nothing but good outcomes so I say to hell with it...I'll be a guinny pig!!!
"You gotta be in it to win it folks"
Cheers
As for the ill effects everyone is worried about, people have been using this method for a few years now and it has not caused a system crash. I believe because this method is so far out in left field that people automatically assume that it wont work or wont be safe. I've read alot and done my research and have heard nothing but good outcomes so I say to hell with it...I'll be a guinny pig!!!
"You gotta be in it to win it folks"
Cheers
customcolor
New member
my tank has ben running now for about 8 months and i do see bristle worms making homes in it all the time with no ill efacts. my foam is NOT epoxied and still looks great. coraline groth is great too. here is a pic that i took last week from my 125 that im going to use in my next forum.
I can see this rock creation method is exploding on the reef scene!!! Saves alot of money and gives the creator complete flexability with the design. No more tryin to aqua scape with all kinds of odd ball shaped and sizes of live rock. I love this method and hope it catchs on even more...cant wait to see other mods to this method 
yousmellsfishy
New member
:thumbsup:<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12480743#post12480743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GIJOE007
I can see this rock creation method is exploding on the reef scene!!! Saves alot of money and gives the creator complete flexability with the design. No more tryin to aqua scape with all kinds of odd ball shaped and sizes of live rock. I love this method and hope it catchs on even more...cant wait to see other mods to this method
KenStanley
Premium Member
Moving forward
Moving forward
I have my 110g broken down at this moment but I'm in the process of setting it all back up and I fully intend to incorporate this method to do it. Kannin and Tiggsy both I think have helped us all with their posts. I personally feel the benefits out weigh the potential down side, especially if we choose our materials carefully. My input on the subject was not to discourage anyone or to be a "nay sayer" but rather to advance the discussion and help all of us come up with better, safer materials to use. I just hope mine comes out half as good as Kannin's and Tiggsy's.
I'd like some feedback on what I’m planning from some of you guys that are already doing it. You probably have hindsight that is invaluable to those of us just starting out.
I have about 135 lbs of live rock that I have kept in natural sea water in a huge rubber maid trash container. I’m running a pump running in it to keep the water circulating 24/7. I, every couple of weeks, add a little nitrifying and oxygenating bacteria. (Kannin, I too thought mojanos were cute...At first! LOL). Hopefully, in the end I’ll have very clean very rich in bacteria live rock to work with. My idea is to combine both live rock and the “aquascape†method.
The back wall, overflow and partial ends I’m going to foam and use dead live rock to crate a wall and natural looking backdrop. For the primary structure, however, I'm going to use the live rock. My idea is to shape the live rock with a chisel or cutoff tool and drill holes in it so I can put in PVC pipe so I can create an interesting reef structure that I couldn't do by just stacking the live rock. I have a Tunze wave box and a Tunze stream kit using this method I believe I will be able to almost totally conceal them within the structures. I need to leave a space between the back wall and the live rock wall which will give me a long open water area where my wave box can do its job and yet be concealed and accessible for maintenance.
I'm thinking I am also going to do the bottom of the tank with aquascaping. For this I’m going to use little short pieces of PVC pipe on which my live rock can sit thus keeping it from actually sitting on the base. The goal here is to have a natural base and to be able to clean the bottom by blowing it with a maxi jet during water changes. Any thoughts on this?
My intention is to make a lot of pictures and document the whole process. I think because of this thread I’ll be able to do a much better job than I would have had this thread not been here. My hope here is that I’ll get the benefits of a great looking tank and the biological benefits of the live rock. I look forward to your comments.
Moving forward
I have my 110g broken down at this moment but I'm in the process of setting it all back up and I fully intend to incorporate this method to do it. Kannin and Tiggsy both I think have helped us all with their posts. I personally feel the benefits out weigh the potential down side, especially if we choose our materials carefully. My input on the subject was not to discourage anyone or to be a "nay sayer" but rather to advance the discussion and help all of us come up with better, safer materials to use. I just hope mine comes out half as good as Kannin's and Tiggsy's.
I'd like some feedback on what I’m planning from some of you guys that are already doing it. You probably have hindsight that is invaluable to those of us just starting out.
I have about 135 lbs of live rock that I have kept in natural sea water in a huge rubber maid trash container. I’m running a pump running in it to keep the water circulating 24/7. I, every couple of weeks, add a little nitrifying and oxygenating bacteria. (Kannin, I too thought mojanos were cute...At first! LOL). Hopefully, in the end I’ll have very clean very rich in bacteria live rock to work with. My idea is to combine both live rock and the “aquascape†method.
The back wall, overflow and partial ends I’m going to foam and use dead live rock to crate a wall and natural looking backdrop. For the primary structure, however, I'm going to use the live rock. My idea is to shape the live rock with a chisel or cutoff tool and drill holes in it so I can put in PVC pipe so I can create an interesting reef structure that I couldn't do by just stacking the live rock. I have a Tunze wave box and a Tunze stream kit using this method I believe I will be able to almost totally conceal them within the structures. I need to leave a space between the back wall and the live rock wall which will give me a long open water area where my wave box can do its job and yet be concealed and accessible for maintenance.
I'm thinking I am also going to do the bottom of the tank with aquascaping. For this I’m going to use little short pieces of PVC pipe on which my live rock can sit thus keeping it from actually sitting on the base. The goal here is to have a natural base and to be able to clean the bottom by blowing it with a maxi jet during water changes. Any thoughts on this?
My intention is to make a lot of pictures and document the whole process. I think because of this thread I’ll be able to do a much better job than I would have had this thread not been here. My hope here is that I’ll get the benefits of a great looking tank and the biological benefits of the live rock. I look forward to your comments.
yousmellsfishy
New member
saltyFISHscales
New member
This is so amazing, it makes me want to tear mine apart and start a new one! Plus with all my algae problems, this makes me want to start over even more! Great work!
saltyFISHscales
New member
This is so amazing, it makes me want to tear mine apart and start a new one! Plus with all my algae problems, this makes me want to start over even more! Great work!
Fishingpcola
New member
Received the Z poxy today. Will be rebuilding this weekend.
ok... I tried a test on a 2' section and have noticed a few things I would like some help with...
When you were spraying the foam is there a pattern or recommended way to apply it... First I just went back and forth all the way across but this looked kind of awkward and im sure not what you were doing? I then tried shaping it with a cardboard piece... this had mixed results because it is so sticky....
Has anyone tried multiple layers? Like spraying each square letting it foam up and then coming back again to try and make it look good?
When you were spraying the foam is there a pattern or recommended way to apply it... First I just went back and forth all the way across but this looked kind of awkward and im sure not what you were doing? I then tried shaping it with a cardboard piece... this had mixed results because it is so sticky....
Has anyone tried multiple layers? Like spraying each square letting it foam up and then coming back again to try and make it look good?
For me, what I did was spray a bunch in one area, letting it pile up slightly...move to a new area and repeat. I didnt like doing back forth across like that because it started to look real un-natural. Once the first layer has cured (overnight) I then, very gently, sprayed a little with the can raised off the egg crate...this will give you "stringy" foam that I randomly placed, dragged and dabbed all over the other larger created pieces of foam. You really have to play with it to get it at the point where your happy with it. After the foam has cured, once again over night, if you want to modify the look, I found the best way is to just tair chuncks of foam away (to make holes, caves, pass thrus etc). I tried using a straight edge and found it was'nt as effective as using your hand. When you tair it away with your hand, you will see that it will come kind off in layers.
As for the epoxy, I just waited overnight until to foam was cured. The epoxy is a big pain in the *** in my opinion. I used a 2 part boat hobby epoxy...it says 45 min cure time, but on the back of the bottle at the bottom it states, in fine print of course, that if both bottles are mixed 100% of its contents at once, it starts to cure it 10 minytes not 45!!! The second batch of epoxy I tried using half the bottles together...not so good because your paint brush will start to harden in about 10-15 minutes, so you either have to have a second brush or just do it all quickly. Once the epxoy is spread out over the foam, then you can sprinkle crushed coral or sand on it. Just thought I'd give you a heads up using the epoxy...WORK QUICKLY!!!
It would be great if someone could come up with a reef safe spray type of bonding agent. It would make life a whole lot easier, but until then we have to work with what we got.
Hope this helps, and good luck.
As for the epoxy, I just waited overnight until to foam was cured. The epoxy is a big pain in the *** in my opinion. I used a 2 part boat hobby epoxy...it says 45 min cure time, but on the back of the bottle at the bottom it states, in fine print of course, that if both bottles are mixed 100% of its contents at once, it starts to cure it 10 minytes not 45!!! The second batch of epoxy I tried using half the bottles together...not so good because your paint brush will start to harden in about 10-15 minutes, so you either have to have a second brush or just do it all quickly. Once the epxoy is spread out over the foam, then you can sprinkle crushed coral or sand on it. Just thought I'd give you a heads up using the epoxy...WORK QUICKLY!!!
It would be great if someone could come up with a reef safe spray type of bonding agent. It would make life a whole lot easier, but until then we have to work with what we got.
Hope this helps, and good luck.
thanks!
I also did my test over cardboard and noticed this morning that the foam is stuck to the cardboard...
Are you guys doing this in the tank? or spraying outside the tank? I think it looks easier if there was a closed back instead of the eggcrate has anyone looked into this?
I also did my test over cardboard and noticed this morning that the foam is stuck to the cardboard...
Are you guys doing this in the tank? or spraying outside the tank? I think it looks easier if there was a closed back instead of the eggcrate has anyone looked into this?
I used a painters tarp outside of the tank...worked great because it allowed me to "peel" the reef wall off with causing any damage or sticking. I would not reccomend using cardboard because if some of it gets cured in the foam, you'll probably have to find a way of getting it off later because you dont want that in your tank.
As for the closed back issue, you'll find that once you start spraying your foam on it, the foam will fill in all the little square areas created from the egg crate pattern. I then cut any pieces that went past the egg crate giving me a filled in smooth back to put against the tank walls. If you spray directly on the tank glass, you'll never be able to get it out later. What happens if you want to move the tank or move to a new house??? You'll never get it out with out killing everything.
Take a look at my build thread if you want...might give you some insight and ideas for your application...its very pic intense step by step
Hope this helps...
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1381431
As for the closed back issue, you'll find that once you start spraying your foam on it, the foam will fill in all the little square areas created from the egg crate pattern. I then cut any pieces that went past the egg crate giving me a filled in smooth back to put against the tank walls. If you spray directly on the tank glass, you'll never be able to get it out later. What happens if you want to move the tank or move to a new house??? You'll never get it out with out killing everything.
Take a look at my build thread if you want...might give you some insight and ideas for your application...its very pic intense step by step
Hope this helps...
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1381431
